Loans

A good credit history is important not only for getting good interest rates on a credit card, car loan or mortgage. It may also mean lower insurance rates, a better deal on a cell phone plan, or even be a determining factor in whether you or not you get a job. The reality is that it takes good credit to achieve many potential dreams. If you’ve had credit issues in the past, or just haven’t started establishing a good credit history, it’s never too late to start.

Vantage partners with Accel Financial Counseling to provide free financial education and counseling services to our members. Here’s what they have to say about the state of getting credit today:

A credit card is a double-edged sword. One edge offers convenience and security when making purchases. You’ll even find some transactions (renting a car, reserving a hotel room) can get tricky without one. So yes, a credit card has a useful side. But it can also have a second edge, a dark side. It’s all too easy to find yourself in trouble with debt, fees and finance charges (not to mention a shrinking credit rating) if you allow easy access to credit to get the best of your budget.

Have you seen that television show where a building contractor hangs out at a home improvement store and approaches people about taking him (and his crew) home for a makeover? And it all happens in a few days, no loose ends, only an occasional headache, miraculously cured by a well-placed commercial. Well, if you’ve decided you want improvements around your home, clear all that Hollywood nonsense from your mind. Let’s talk real nuts and bolts about home improvement using a real contractor who has an office, not a camera.

Let’s play a short little guessing game. We’ll provide a few statistics, and you tell us what those stats represent. Ready? Here we go...

• One in 10 U.S. citizens has been personally affected by this.
• Nearly 26 million Americans carry insurance against it.
• Those involved lose an average of between $851-$1,378 in expenses.
• Worldwide losses associated with this are $221 billion a year.

Alright, what are we talking about? Natural disasters? Vehicle accidents? No. It’s identity theft. It’s you having your good name stolen and used for someone else’s benefit. Here are some other numbers to consider:

If you’re in the market for a new home, you’re in luck; there’s never been a better time to buy. Rates are near historic lows. The only catch––if you already own a home, you’ll need to sell it in a rather soft market. That’s why you’ll need to be sure it’s looking its best for potential buyers.

There are a number of things you can do to help ensure your home is as attractive as possible to home shoppers, so roll up your sleeves and let’s get your home ready for the market:

She’s been a good friend, but her mood’s been a little temperamental lately, and she’s let you down on more than one occasion. Not that looks are important, but she’s getting a little long in the tooth as well. Yeah, she’s lost her luster in more ways than one. For better or for worse, there comes a time when you just have to know when to cut the ties. It’s time for a new vehicle.

Before you go out kicking tires and wasting pricey gasoline running from one auto dealer to the next, why not just boot up the ol’ computer and do a little shopping from the comfort of home? Vantage offers our Direct Dealer network, a collection of nearly 250 local vehicle dealers, most online. From A (Ackerman) to Z (Zeiser), from east (O’Fallon, IL) to west (Warrenton) to north (Florissant) to south (Festus), we have you covered when it comes to shopping for a new or used vehicle.